ok, cartographer@ok_cartographer

Replying to @VividVoid_

Integrating the shadow is a tricky concept. Our shadow self operates unconsciously, hence why it casts a shadow off of our light (which is consciousness). It only makes sense, then, when we look at our shadow with our light (conscious awareness), it is integrated not as a shadow but as light, for we are aware of it. The shadow dissipates in the presence of light. This allows us to broaden our capacity to love. We don’t look at our shadow because we do not love aspects of our self. And to love our neighbor we must love ourself. So, it is “integrated”, but that wording has certain spiritual implications that can be worrying (ie the necessity of evil to balance good - a Manichaean concept). For shadow contents are only in the shadow because they are neglected for whatever reason. These attributes become “devilish”, when if they were in the light of consciousness, we could decide whether to use ourselves for good or for evil. But the shadow is unconscious, so it does what it wants, for ill or for good, so it must be faced. But do we integrate evil, or bring it to light?